Talented staff awarded for building better health in the bush

Seven Central West Hospital and Health Service individuals and two teams have been recognised at this year’s staff awards for their commitment to building better health in the bush.

The Central West Health Excellence Awards were held virtually on 27 November, with staff from throughout the region joining the lunchtime virtual celebration.

Central West Health received 52 nominations from across the region for eight award categories.

Board Chair Jane Williams said the large number of nominations received for this year’s event was outstanding, with 10 more responses than last year.

“Our staff excellence awards are a great opportunity to recognise individuals and teams for their enduring dedication to providing quality health care,’’ she said.

“The number of nominations received this year shows are our staff are really getting behind the opportunity to recognise the work of their colleagues.

“Quality health care relies upon the knowledge and skills of our staff, plus their empathy, compassion, and dedication to the communities they serve.

“Staff awards such as these are an important tool for recognising and celebrating the dedication and commitment throughout the year of our most vital resource – our staff.

“These awards are a way of saying thank you for all their hard work and innovative thinking that has led to improved outcomes for patients.

“And it makes no difference if our staff work on the front line in a clinical area or behind the scenes.

“Without the backing of operational, administrative and technical staff, frontline staff simply could not do their jobs.

“Wherever they work, our staff are all part of a single team dedicated to delivering a Central West Health system that is committed to delivering top quality care throughout our diverse region.

“Working in remote settings such as ours, our staff have a special connection with their communities and the entire Central West can be very proud of all their achievements.

“The staff awards recognise employees from all work streams and it is a real accomplishment to be recognised by your work peers.’’

Ms Williams said she wanted to congratulate the winners of the eight award categories.

“I would also like to commend the people who took the trouble to nominate their colleagues and, indeed, every single one of our employees here in the Central West,’’ she said.

“Their efforts are an inspiration to us all.’’

Award categories and winners are as follows:

 Bright Spark Award – This award honours an individual who has redefined innovation within the health service. The recipient stands out for their transformative ideas, dedication, and resilience, setting new standards of excellence. Their innovative contributions inspire both the health service and the community.
Winner: Senior Physiotherapist Laura Ewins, Longreach.

 Cultural Connector Award – The Cultural Connector is a champion of diversity and inclusion. This person demonstrates a strong commitment to understanding and connecting with people from all walks of life. Through their skills, knowledge, and empathy, they ensure our services are accessible and respectful, playing a key role in strengthening community ties and enhancing service effectiveness.
Winner: Tomoko Kennedy, Dental Assistant, Barcaldine Multipurpose Health Service Dental Clinic.

 The Ripple Effect – This award recognises an individual or team whose positive influence has created a lasting impact across the health service. They inspire others with their dedication, leadership, and positive attitude, promoting a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
Winner: Kirsty Moulds, Barcaldine Multipurpose Health Service Business Manager.

 The Care Bear – The Care Bear Award honours an individual or team that consistently fosters a nurturing and inclusive environment. They ensure that every team member and patient feels valued, appreciated, and cared for. These unsung heroes exemplify the compassion and dedication that form the heart of our health service.
Winner: Janet Penrose, Jundah Primary Health Centre Operational Services Officer.

 The Anchor Award – Acknowledges the workgroup that strives for best practice within the health service. They collectively act to drive continuous improvement, and they follow our processes down to the line. This is awarded to the team or facility who meets the hallmarks of safety and quality across all domains.
Winner: Jundah Primary Health Centre.

 The Green Finger Award – Recognises the staff who transform the grounds around Central West facilities into lush gardens and even productive vegetable patches with their unique ability to get the right things growing year-round. As much as they make workplaces more pleasant for staff, the impact that green fingers have on patients and the community at large is profound.
Winner: Shane Beinke, grounds person at Alpha Multipurpose Health Service and David Cole, Longreach Hospital horticulturalist.

 The Vital Signs Award – Recognises a team that demonstrates clinical excellence, ensuring every patient receives safe, compassionate and high-quality care.
Winner: Longreach Hospital.

 The Board Chair’s Award – Recognises a nominee whose contribution to the health service and its culture is significant but might not easily fit into one or any of the other categories. The recipient of the ‘Board Chair’s Award’ is someone who is a pillar of our Central West Health values, enthusiastically demonstrating them every day.
Winner: Rebecca Luxon, Assistant-in-Nursing at Barcaldine Multipurpose Health Service.